To bijur motor



L. M. WOLFFSOHN.

ELECTRICAL CUT-OUT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, I916.

Patented July 15, 1919.

UNITED ATES FATE @FFTEE.

LIONEL M. WOLFFSOHN, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN'OR, BY MESN E ASSIGN- I MEN TS, T IBIJUR MOTOR APPLIANCE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRICAL CUT-OUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15,1919.

Application filed July 15, 1916. SerialNo. 109,439.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIONEL WOLFE- soHN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New'Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Electrical Cut-Outs, of

which the following is a specification.

This, invention relates to electrical cutouts or switches and the like. One of the objects struction. Other objects will be in part 0bvious and in part pointed out'hereinafter. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the fol-,

lowing claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various ments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation, certain parts being removed in order to show the construction more clearly;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in another position; I 4

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3. of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation.

. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings in detail, tliere is shown at 1 a casing, preferably of cast metal, and having formed integral at each side the perforated supporting lugs 2. This casing has at its 11 per end possible embodian integral boss 3 and a similar gui in boss' rod is perforated, as at 7, adjacent its upper end, to receive a pin 7 (Fig. 3) during. the assembling operation, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. Below the upper shoulder 6 is a section of what may be termed an intermediate diameter, this intermediate portion of the rod being screwthreadedto receive a nut 17 hereinafter described. At the lower end of these threads is another shoulder ,7", and the rod below this shoulder is of a still smaller diameter, and is provided at its'lower end with other threads 8, so as to permit of convenient attachment to any desired form of actuating means, here diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings by the part 9.

Each of the bearings of the rod 5 is provided with packing 19 held in place by a suitable cap ll and screws 12. This packing, which is preferably of oiled felt, affords the slight lubrication required for the rod, and renders the joint waterproof.

Fitted upon the intermediate portion of the rod 5 is a heavy washer or ring 13, resting against the shoulder 6. This washer serves. as a firm support for a sprin 14 which resiliently holds in. the desired s iape a contact member 15, the end surfaces of which are formed inoperative position to co-act with certain fixed contacts hereinafter described.

The lower surface of the contact member 15, which is preferably formed of copper, is supported by a washer 16, held in place by a nut 17'. Compressed between the nut 17 and the upper surface of the boss 4 'is a spiral spring 18 normally holding the rod with its associated parts in its 'uppermost or circuit-opening position, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

of breakage of the spring 14 or bending of the parts if excessive actuating force be used. If desired, the sleeve 18 may be secured in position on the rod 5 by providing an internal shoulder 18 on the sleeve "adapted to fit tightly against an upset portion 18 on the rod, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The above described parts slide evenly within the casing 1 and there is cast integral with the rear walls of the casing, a pair of ribs or guides 19, against which the rear sides of the ends of the members 14 or 15 rest. These guides thus prevent rotation of the contact member and other moving parts,

and accurately seat the bridging piece in itsoperative position.

Formed in the lower wall of the casing 1 is a seat or abutment 20 at one side, and a similar seat 21 at the opposite side, the latter seat extending to a higher point than seat 20. ()n the seat 20 is a iece of insulating member 22 bent upwardfy as at 23 to rest against a shoulder 21 formed in the side wall of the casing. This insulation securely supports in a position spaced on all sides from the casshank 25 which passes outwardly through an insulating bushing 26 in the wall of the casing, and is threaded upon its outer end. Coacting with the threaded part of this member is an insulating washer 27 against which rests a metallic washer 28 and a nut 29 which serves to firmly anchor the contact 25 in position. Also positioned on the shank of contact 25 is another metallic washer 30 between which and nut 29 is gripped the bared end of the conductor 32 of an electric circuit, by means of a nut 31. The apertures in the casing for the shanks 25, 341, are somewhat larger than the bushing 26 and shank 31 respectively, so that the posts 25, 33 will fit accurately upon their seats without re quiring accurate drilling of the apertures.

Seated upon the abutment 21 is a contact 33, the shank 34: of which passes through the wall of the casing and is tightly clamped in position by a nut 35, this contact'being in electrical connection with the entire device. On shank 31 beyond the nut 35, "the ba-red end of a conductor 36, which may if desired lead to ground, is gripped between a metallic washer 38 and the nut by an outer nut 39.

In assembling the device, the packing 10 and caps 11 are first secured on the casing 1 by means of the screws 12, after which the insulating member 22 is laid in position upon the seat 20. The contact posts 25, 33,' are then inserted in the casing and their shanks 253 34, are passed outwardly through the apertures provided therefor, after which the insulated contact post 25 is secured in position by means of the insulating bushing 26, washer 27. and nut 29, and the grounded contact post 33 is similarly secured by means of the nut 35. The bridging piece 15, reinforcing spring 14, upper washer 13, lower washer 16, nut 17, spring 18 and sleeve 18, are placed in the casing, and the rod-5 is then passed downwardly through the boss 3, then successively through the upper washer 13, reinforcing spring 14, bridging piece 15, lower washer 16, nut 17, and sleeve 18, surrounded by the spring 18, after which the a fixed contact post 25, provided with a' lower end of the rod is passed through the bushing -'L. Then a pin 7 is passed through the rod to facilitate relative rotation of the rod and the nut 17 to thread the nut upon the intermediate portion of the rod' until the bridging piece 15 and reinforcing spring 1 1 are secured tightl in position on the rod. The cover 40 may t ien be applied to the open face of the casing and secured thereon by means of the screws 11. It will thus be seen that the entire device may be assembled through a single open face in the casing, that the parts are all operable with the cover on or off, and that all of the parts are readily available for inspection or removal, simply by removing the single cover 10.

It may here be noted that by the term cutout is meant any device for interrupt ing or changing an electrical circuit, and that the term casing is also used in a broad sense to denote any inclosing or embracing device. 1

In the use of this apparatus, the parts are normally in. the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, with an outer cover 10 held in position by the screws -11 at each corner, closing the casing and maintaining it waterproof, and also proof against the entry of dirt or dust. l/Vith the parts in this position, theonly live member in the entire device is the contact 25, which is firmly and securely held in position. Accordingly, the remaining parts may all be electrically connected one with another, thus doing away with the necessity for careful construction or additional insulation, and improving the action of the .cutout when in contact-making position.

When it is desired to close the circuit, the rod 5 is moved downwardly by any suitable device, and spring 18 compressed until the contact member 15 firmly engages the contacts 25 and 23. This contact member being resiliently supported, is permitted to spread slightly by the spring 14:, thus rubbing the 110 contact surfaces clean and'forming a connection of low electrical resistance and uniform pressure. Breakage of the spring is guarded against by the supporting washer 13 and by the arrangement whereby, how- 115 ever great an actuating force may be employed, the distortion of spring 14 is limited by the action of-the sleeve 18 as above described. 1

Immediately upon release of the actuating 120 pressure, the parts are snapped back into the open position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawmgs. It is to be noted that although a large portion of the entire device is cast integral and is accordingly of extremely cheap con- 125 struction, nevertheless the metal is so disposed that an accurate, even and reliable action is insured without the necessity for careful insulation, adjustment or cautious use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing, means adapted to hold said casing in position, a pair of contacts mounted in said casing, a rod extending through a wall of said casing and slidably mounted therein, a bridge contact carried by said rod in position. to be brought into bridging relation to said first contacts as said rod is slid within the wall of said casing and means integral with the inner surface of said casing to maintain said bridge contact in alinement with said pair of contacts.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing, means adapted to hold said casing in position, a pair of contacts mounted in said casing, a rod extend- I ing through a wall of said casing and slidably mounted therein, a bridge contact car-- ried by said rod in position to be brought into bridging relation to said first contacts as said rod is slid within the wall of. said casing, means about said rod forming a waterproof joint at its slidable connection with the wall of said casing and means integral with the inner surface of said casing to maintain said bridge contact in alinement with said pair of contacts.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing, a rod extending through opposite walls of said casing and slidably mounted therein,a pair of spaced contacts mounted within said casing and respectively positioned on opposite sides of said rod, a bridging contact carried by said rod and movabletherewith into bridging engagement with said first contacts, means adapted to move said rod in' one direction, and a spring tending to move said rod in the opposite direction, said casing being formed of cast metal and having integral therewith a. guide adapted to prevent swinging movement of said bridging contact.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing, a rod extending through a wall of said casing and slidably guided therein, a pair of spaced contacts mounted within said casing and respectively positioned on opposite sides of said rod, a bridging contact carried by said rod and movable therewith into bridging engagement with said first contacts, means adapted to move said rod in one direction, a spring tending to movelsaid rod in the opposite direction, means holding said bridging contact in position and adapted to yield as contact-making pressure is applied, and means associated with said rod and within said casing adapted to limit its contact-making movement.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing of cast metal having formed integral on its inner surface a pair of guide ribs and a pair of supporting seats, a pair of contacts respectively positioned on said supporting seats, one of said contacts being insulated from said casing, means adapted to connect the circuit terminals with said contacts, a rod extending through opposite walls of said casing in a direction transverse to a line connecting said pair of contacts and slidably mounted in said walls, a yielding'bridging contact carried by said rod and operatively related to said guide ribs to prevent rotation about the axis of said rod, means on said rod adapted to limit its sliding movement in a contact-making direction, means on said rod against which said bridging contact is held, means adapted to slide said rod into. contact-making position, and a spring urging said rod in the opposite direction.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing having on its inner surface a plurality of guide ribs and a plurality of supporting seats, contacts respectively positioned on said seats, one of said contacts being insulated from said casing, means adapted to connect the circuit termi nals with said contacts, a rod extending through opposite walls of said casing and slidably mounted in said walls, and means carried by said rod and operatively related to said guide ribs to prevent rotation of said rod about its axis.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing provided with anopen face, a detachable cover therefor, contact posts with reduced shanks, a rod passing through said casing, a bridging piece for the contacts, a locking nut for said bridging piece supporting the same and threaded to receive said rod, the casing being apertured to receive said shanks and said rod, the rod being inserted in two substantially alined apertures and then threaded upon said nut, whereby the entire device may be assem- 115 bled through the openface ofthe casing.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing provided with an open face, a detachable cover therefor, contact posts with threaded shanks passing through 120 said casing, a bridging piece for the contacts, and a rod carrying said bridging piece, means for securing the bridging piece in position on. the rod, the casing being apertured to receive said shank and said rod, the bridging piece and contact posts being 'inserted into the casing through said open the removal of the cover.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing provided-with apertures and seats, contacts adapted to fit upon said seats and having shanks passing through certain of said apertures to the exterior of said casing and servin as binding posts, a rod passing throug certain of said apertures and carrying a piece adapted to bridge said contacts, a cover adapted to fit upon a face of said casing, and means preventing the rotation of said rod, the machined surfaces of the casing, for the cover and the contacts, being all parallel or at right angles to the plane of said face,

10. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing, contacts therein adapted to be connected to an electric c1r.

cuit, a piece adapted to bridge said contacts. a nut for locking said piece in position, a rod passing through said casing and carrying said piece and threaded to receive said nut, shoulders in said rod adjacent either end of said threads, and other threads adjacent the reduced end of the rod to permit the rod to be threaded onto a suitable operating member, whereby in the assembling operation, the bridging piece may be placed inside the casing and the reduced end of the rod may be passed through said bridging piece and secured in position with respect thereto.

11. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing, contacts therein adapted to be connected to an electric circuit, a piece adapted to bridge said contacts, a nut for locking said piece in position, a rod extending into said casing and carrying said piece and threaded to secure said nut, shoulders on said rod adjacent either end of said threads, and means associated with said rod during the assembling operation to permit relative rotation of rod and nut to thread the nut on the rod and thus secure the bridging piece upon the rod. 7

12. In a device of the class described, in

combination, a casing, contacts shanks,

therein adapted to be connected to an electric circuit, a piece adapted to bridge said contacts, a nut for locking said piece in position, a rod passing through said casing and carrying said piece and threaded to receive said nut, shoulders on said rod adjacent either end of said threads, other threads adjacent the reduced end of the rod to permit the rod to be threaded onto a suitable operating member, whereby in the assembling operation the bridging piece may be placed inside the casing and the reduced end of the rod may be passed through said bridging piece and secured in position with respect thereto, and means secured to the casing for lubricating said rod at its bearings in the casing and excluding dust fromthe interior of the casing."

13. In a device of the class described, in combination, contact posts with threaded shoulders adjacent either end of the threads to receive and retain a piece adapted to bridge said contacts, a casing provided with apertures toreceive said shanks and said rod, and nuts outside the casing securing the contact posts in position and serving as binding posts for circuit wires.

14. In a device of the class described, in combination, contact posts with threaded shanks, a rod, a' bridging contact mounted thereon, a casing provided with apertures to receive said shanks and said rod, and nuts outside the casing securing the contact posts in position and serving as binding posts for circuit wires, the apertures for the shanks being'large enough to allow the shanks to pass freely therethrough, whereby the contacts may be placed firmly in position irrespective of inaccuracies in the location of the apertures.

a rod threaded and provided with In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this tenth day of July, 1916. a

LIONEL M. WQLFFSOHN. 

